Fishing for Filmmakers in Vancouver

Fishing for Filmmakers in Vancouver

My first time at the Vancouver International Film Festival has been pleasant, and busy as hell. They have me working hard in various panels, one-on-one producer meetings, and sampling a little of the city’s scenery. We were met with rain as the festival began, but this weekend became amazingly beautiful. More on festival specifics later, but here is a round of photos I took in the first couple days in Vancouver:

(The Opening Night Party was held at the Vancouver Aquarium, which was a unique venue to be sure. Part of the musical entertainment was this group of Native Canadians.)

(Throw Down Your Heart director Sascha Paladino, right, and his wife Erin hung out by the jellyfish during the Opening Party. It was cool to have the party at the Vancouver Aquarium, but they also served sushi, which was a little odd if you think about it long enough.)

(On Friday, I spent the afternoon offering advice to Vancouver producers as part of the VIFF Forum. Two of those filmmakers were Kryssta Mills and Trish Dolman, who are producing the debut feature from Shortbus star Sook-Yin Lee. This is them, at the Telefilm Canada party later that day.)

(Also at the Telefilm soiree, Nicolas Chartier of Voltage Pictures and Stephanie Swedlove of Brightlight Pictures. Nicolas produced the TIFF hit, The Hurt Locker, while Stephanie’s company is arguably the most productive film and TV outfit in Vancouver.)

(Vancouver filmmakers Scott Smith, Rob Gray, and Cameron Labine hang out at the Canadian Images party Friday night. Scott’s two features, Rollercoaster and Falling Angels, both screened at SXSW back in the day. Cameron’s new film, Control Alt Delete, screened at VIFF this year after premiering in Toronto.)

(Also at the Canadian Images party, Control Alt Delete executive producer Lynne Stopkewich gives the film’s co-star Laura Bertram a squeeze. Apparently, Laura was a big kids TV star in Canada… I only know Degrassi and she was not on Degrassi.)

(Something about this scene is very Vancouver to me: a Japanese market with a French crepe stand built out on the entrance. Pretty good.)